The Environmental Impact Assessment Practice Guide Assessment of Proposals in Western Australia under Part IV of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 (EIA Practice Guide) outlines the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) practice of EIA (environmental impact assessment) including assessment processes and EPA expectations. The EIA Practice Guide forms part of the EPA suite of documents to support EIA.
The EIA Practice Guide has been prepared to be consistent with the EPA’s functions under s. 16 and 122 of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 (EP Act) and sets out EPA EIA assessment process, grouped according to the following key stages:
- Stage 1 Referral of a proposal to the EPA (s. 38)
- Stage 2 EPA to decide whether or not to assess a referred proposal (s. 38A to s. 39B)
- Stage 3 Assessment of proposals (s. 40 to s. 43A)
- Stage 4 EPA report on the assessment of a proposal (s. 44)
- Stage 5 Deciding if proposal may be implemented and implementation of proposals (s. 45 to s. 48).
On 1 January 2026, the EIA Practice Guide replaced the Administrative Procedures and Procedures Manual. It introduced a range of improvements designed to enhance transparency, efficiency, and stakeholder engagement.
The EPA have published Transitional Arrangements to outline how the EIA process has changed based on the different stages of the EIA process. This is available below.
Key Highlights:
- Single Source of Information: One comprehensive document for ease of access and consistency.
- Streamlined Environmental Review Document: A single assessment document will now cover both the referral and assessment stages, simplifying submissions and enhancing review efficiency.
- Modernised Assessment Approach: The shift from prescribed Levels of Assessment (LOAs) to a flexible framework based on three key questions enables more efficient and targeted assessments.
- Refined Scoping Process: Scoping will now be led by the EPA, with technical experts providing focused input where it is considered necessary to ensure relevance and clarity.
- Enhanced Public Participation: The minimum public review period has been extended from two weeks to four weeks, allowing more time for meaningful community engagement.
- Clearer Roles and Responsibilities: The EIA Practice Guide clarifies the roles of Decision-Making Authorities (DMAs), the public, and technical experts, ensuring a more transparent and collaborative process.
Supporting Material
To align with the streamlined EIA Practice Guide, the EPA has updated the following priority documents to assist with proponent’s and consultants providing comprehensive and targeted information to inform the EPA’s assessment:
- Referral instructions and form
- Environmental Scoping Documents instructions and template
- Environmental Review Document instructions and template
More information about how the new EIA Practice Guide will affect EIA documents and processes are outlined in the Transitional Arrangements.
The EPA will also be systematically reviewing and updating other supporting EIA instructions and forms in 2026 to align with the new EIA Practice Guide.
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